While expressing concerns about the potential costs, the Renville County Board of Commissioners agreed Tuesday to pursue licensing from the Department of Health for overnight camping in county parks along the Minnesota River.

The West Central Tribune reports parks with more than five overnight camping sites must meet a variety of health requirements, including the availability of potable water and approved sanitary systems. The county learned last year of the requirements and the fact that some of the parks were not in compliance, mainly due to the lack of potable water.

The resolution approved by the full board allows the county to pursue licensing, but it states that the county cannot make any expenditure for the needed upgrades until it is known whether the Department of Health will provide variances needed to license the parks. Jill Bruns, director of Renville County Public Health, told the commissioners that plans for the park improvements would be reviewed and the county would be informed whether variances would be provided.

Bruns and Dave Distad, health inspector with Kandiyohi-Renville Public Health, told the commissioners that they believed variances could be obtained. Bruns told the commissioners that the intent was “to work together” to help the county meet the licensing requirements.